Minister Tau: Cannabis Commercialization Policy is DTIC’s ‘Immediate Focus’ Going into the New Year
The development of a cannabis commercialization policy is one of the DTIC’s priorities going into the new year and the Department is working with the SABS to develop standardized guidelines for the packaging and labelling of cannabis products for general retail and medical cannabis purposes.
Cannabis as a Stress Management Tool for Family Holidays
Besides the obvious joint or two, cannabis helps manage holiday stress through fast-acting gummies for social anxiety, CBD products for travel nerves, balanced edibles for family gatherings, and energizing vapes for cooking marathons. CBD capsules offer stress relief for crowded shopping, in-law visits, work parties, and post-feast relaxation.
Learning the Hard Lessons of the American Cannabis Market
Joao Duartte (pictured here), Business Developer at Decibel Engineered Systems in Almada, Portugal says Europe should take note of the hard lessons from the US cannabis industry – namely oversupply kills markets, price dropping bankrupts companies and fragmentation destroys scalability.
Vape Shop Owner Disappears in a Cloud of Smoke After R40 m Investment Goes Missing
East Rand Vape shop House of Clouds owner Mohammed Karolia (pictured here) is reportedly on the run owing over R40 million to a former business partner who obtained a far-reaching court order freezing all his bank accounts on 18 December 2025.
Statement from the White House: Increasing Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research.
This is the statement issued by the White House on 18 December 2025, accepting the medical benefits of cannabis and rescheduling its classification as a less dangerous drug. Although this does not allow federal legalization, the executive order is a deeply significant step in US cannabis reform.
The Culture War: Factions, Egos, and the War for the Soul of Cannabis
Ego has become the barricade that prevents cannabis from realizing its full potential. Infighting among growers, scientists, and newcomers only strengthens the architects of exclusion, leaving us fractured from within. Guest columnist Lee Hymers writes that perhaps a dose of humility is needed all round.
FGFA Calls on Cannabis Communities to Help Shape Post-Prohibition Police Guidelines
One of the most contentious issues right now is the continued application of apartheid-era policing by SAPS which continues to arrest and harass people for cannabis offences. FGFA has launched a bold project to change SAPS from within and is urging cannabis communities to make their voices heard in this regard at a workshop planned for February 2026.
Namibia: Bail for Okahandja Ganja Bust Driver: ‘I thought I was Transporting Meat Not Cannabis’
The driver accused of transporting 52 kg of cannabis in Namibia’s biggest ever cannabis bust has been released on N$50 000 bail after he claimed he was duped into transporting the consignment, which he thought was meat, His two co-accused , South African David van der Linden and farm manager Armand Schultz (pictured here) remain in custody until the legal proceedings continue in the new year.
Agriculture Dept Open to Engagement Over Regulatory Concerns in New Plant Improvement Act
The DoA has signalled that it is open to engaging with stakeholders who have raised concerns about the recently published hemp regulations under the Plant Improvement Act . The first of such meetings has been scheduled for the end of January 2026 between the Registrar of the Plant Improvement Act and a delegation led by Charl Botha of H3 Legal Solutions.
Medical Cannabis Marketing Now Positioning Cannabis as a Mainstream Healthcare Product Rather than Alternative Medicine
Leading international cannabis consultancy Prohibition Partners says the European medical cannabis market is maturing at speed, with providers focused on return on investment and a shift in marketing strategies. Cannabis is already well-known as an ‘alternative medicine’, but now marketing departments are looking at repositioning it as part of a cannabis ‘standardized healthcare’ package.